Mississippi Park Connection

What Mississippi Park Connection does

Mississippi Park Connection is a 501c3 nonprofit organization (EIN 87-0786530) founded in 2010 and headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, operating as the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, a 72-mile urban national park corridor running from Dayton through Hastings. The organization's programs operate across three pillars: youth education (serving 8,000+ students annually via field trips, online learning, and educator resources including Big River Journey, Winter River, Take Me to the River, and Working River); environmental stewardship (habitat restoration, the completed Plant For The Future tree-planting campaign of 15,000 trees, gravel bed tree nurseries, and ecological monitoring including wildlife surveys); and community engagement (volunteer programs, affinity events for BIPOC, Veterans, LGBTQIA+ and disability communities, plus events such as Float Fest and Picnic for the Park). The Volunteers-in-Parks program, co-managed with NPS, mobilized 1,494 volunteers contributing 17,503 service hours in FY2024 (Oct 2023 – Sep 2024).

There is no proprietary technology platform; Mississippi Park Connection's primary 'product' is programmatic in nature, augmented by recreation infrastructure (Paddle Share self-service kayak stations) and a planned Mississippi River Learning Center facility designed by VJAA and TEN x TEN. The nonprofit funds its roughly $2 million annual programmatic investment through a hybrid model combining individual memberships ($60 standard / $35 for under 35) and donations, corporate partnerships and event sponsorships, federal grant funding routed through the NPS partnership, and foundation grants (National Park Foundation's Open Outdoors For Kids, Xcel Energy Foundation, Boston Scientific Foundation, Ecolab Foundation, Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program). Strategic partners span government (NPS, Dakota County, Minnesota DNR, Three Rivers Parks District, City of Saint Paul), fellow nonprofits and museums (Science Museum of Minnesota, Mill City Museum, YMCA of the North, Great River Passage Conservancy, Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi), and corporate sponsors (Bolton & Menk, REI, Surly Brewing). Executive Director Ellen Reed leads the organization following founder Katie Nyberg's January 2022 departure, with Assistant Director Anna Waugh scheduled to depart September 2, 2025.

Name

Mississippi Park Connection

Legal name

Mississippi Park Connection

Website

https://parkconnection.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mississippi Park Connection is a Saint Paul-based 501c3 nonprofit serving as the official partner of the National Park Service for the 72-mile Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, delivering youth education, volunteer-driven environmental stewardship, and community engagement programs to Twin Cities residents, students, and corporate partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Park & Environmental Stewardship Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Educational Adventure Programs (Outdoor Education, Skill Development) (THAAAAAO), Whitewater & Paddle Sports Centers (Rafting, Kayak, SUP, Canoe) (THAAAKAF), Wetlands, Rivers & Freshwater Nature Tours (THAJAIAH)

Keywords

• Environmental stewardship programs
• Youth outdoor education
• Volunteer park programming
• Habitat restoration services
• National park nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership Program: Annual memberships starting at $60 per year with benefits including recognition, exclusive events, and discounts. Young adult memberships available at $35 for those under 35.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate membership with tiered benefits including website and Annual Report recognition, employee engagement through team-building volunteer events, and exclusive invitations to member activities. Includes event sponsorship opportunities.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue from events including Float Fest and Picnic for the Park, including ticket sales and silent auctions.
4. Federal Grants: Federal grant funding through the National Park Service partnership, which has faced recent uncertainty due to funding freezes and workforce reductions. Funding supports tree planting, summer hiring, and fellowship programs.
5. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations including National Park Foundation's Open Outdoors For Kids Grant Program, Xcel Energy Foundation, Boston Scientific Foundation, and Ecolab Foundation supporting youth education programs and the Ticket to Ride Scholarship Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mississippi Park Connection delivers nonprofit park programming for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, providing youth education field trips and educator resources, environmental stewardship (habitat restoration, tree planting, ecological monitoring), community engagement events and affinity programming, and the Volunteers-in-Parks program co-managed with the National Park Service. It also runs Paddle Share kayak rentals and an annual Membership Program starting at $60 per year, channeling nearly $2 million annually into the 72-mile river corridor.

Product overview

Mississippi Park Connection operates as a single unified nonprofit organization offering an integrated portfolio of park programming services rather than a modular software product. Its core offerings include youth education programs (field trips, online learning, educator resources), environmental stewardship (habitat restoration, tree planting, ecological monitoring), community engagement (public events, affinity programming, placemaking), and the Volunteers-in-Parks program co-managed with the National Park Service. Supporting services include membership programs, donations/sponsorship, and Paddle Share kayak rentals. The organization is developing the Mississippi River Learning Center as a major planned facility. There is no software platform, API product, or technology module architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Education Programs Field trip experiences, online learning experiences, and educator resources connecting K-12 students to the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. Programs include Big River Journey, Winter River, Take Me to the River, and Working River, serving over 8,000 students annually.
• Volunteers-in-Parks Program Volunteer program co-managed with the National Park Service offering habitat restoration, public programming support, field scientific surveys, youth education support, and specialized volunteer roles including tree surveying and visitor center operations. Engaged 1,494 volunteers contributing 17,503 service hours in FY2024.
• Environmental Stewardship Program Habitat restoration, tree planting through the Plant for the Future campaign, gravel bed tree nurseries, and ecological monitoring including wildlife surveys and Monarch Larvae Monitoring across the Mississippi River corridor.
• Community Engagement & Public Programs Public programs, annual events including Float Fest and Picnic for the Park, and affinity events for BIPOC, Veterans, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ communities, plus placemaking initiatives along the river.
• Membership Program Annual membership for individuals and corporations starting at $60 per year (discounted $35 for members under 35), providing benefits, exclusive events, and discounts while supporting preservation of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
• Paddle Share Kayak Rentals Self-service kayak rental stations at various park locations along the Mississippi River, enabling public access to on-water recreation through daily and event-based rentals.
• Field Trip Experiences On-site youth education field trip programs including Big River Journey, Winter River, Take Me to the River, and Working River at various park locations serving 8,000+ students annually, with scholarship support through the Ticket to Ride Scholarship Fund for Title I schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,494 volunteers contributed 17,503 service hours to the Volunteers-in-Parks Program in FY2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Great River Passage ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 August 2024Collaborating on the Mississippi River Learning Center development project, working with City of Saint Paul and National Park Service to design and construct the new education facility.
• VJAAcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 19 August 2024Architecture firm selected to lead design and construction document completion for the Mississippi River Learning Center project, building on schematic design completed to date.
• TEN x TENcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 19 August 2024Landscape architecture firm selected as part of the consultant team for Mississippi River Learning Center design and construction, advancing programming and engagement progress.
• Dakota CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership for management of Spring Lake Park Reserve, including bison prairie restoration. Dakota County Natural Resources Specialist Scott Hagen oversees bison herd management in the 150-acre fenced habitat.
• National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner co-managing the Volunteers-in-Parks Program for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. Mississippi Park Connection serves as the official nonprofit partner supporting youth education, community engagement, and environmental stewardship programs in partnership with NPS.
• Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa (CCMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between Mississippi Park Connection and CCMI for the Mississippi River Crew program supporting forest restoration and conservation work. Enabled retention of the Mississippi River Crew despite AmeriCorps funding challenges.
• Science Museum of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner supporting youth programming including Big River Journey field trips. Host site for gravel bed tree nursery where 525 trees were installed in May 2024 for floodplain restoration at Crosby Farm Regional Park.
• Wilderness InquirysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in youth education and outdoor programming, collaborating on outdoor skill-building experiences for students along the Mississippi River.
• Mill City MuseumsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner contributing to formal education offerings; hosts Working River program at Saint Anthony Falls teaching students about water power and metro area history.
• District Energy PlantminorOthersDowntown Saint Paul facility that receives buckthorn removed from restoration sites and converts it to biofuel for heating the downtown district, closing the loop on invasive species removal.
• Wakan Tipi AwanyankapicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormerly Lower Phalen Creek Project. Collaborates on BIPOC-focused tree planting events and cultural programming. Introduces participants to the sacred land history including Wakáŋ Tipi dwelling.
• Friends of the Mississippi RiversecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in collaborative tree planting efforts, contributing native plant plugs including Dutchman's breeches, wild garlic, and jack-in-the-pulpit for restoration projects.
• Urban RootssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in BIPOC-focused tree planting events, contributing native plant materials and collaborative programming for diverse community engagement.
• Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation Partners Legacy Grant Program funder supporting prairie enhancement and bison habitat restoration at Spring Lake Park Reserve.
• YMCA of the NorthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Mississippi National River and Recreation Area education team for Junior Ranger Day Camp and Adventure in the Neighborhood Day Camp summer programming.
• Bolton & MenkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor presenting Float Fest event on July 25, 2026, a celebration of the river featuring on-water recreation and on-land festivities at Graco Park.
• REIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInvested in large-scale volunteer events including National Public Lands Day at Coldwater Spring, supporting community restoration efforts.
• Three Rivers Parks DistrictsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages Mississippi Gateway Regional Park and Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area corridor.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Student Conservation Association: National nonprofit placing young adults in conservation service roles and internships on public lands. Highly comparable on the workforce-pipeline and AmeriCorps/career-launcher dimensions that MPC highlights with its 75%+ sector retention metric.
• Yellowstone Forever: Official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park, operating education, volunteer, and membership programs for a major NPS unit. Closest structural analogue to MPC's official-NPS-partner role, with a much larger scale benchmark.
• Friends of the Mississippi River: Minnesota-based nonprofit focused on habitat restoration, education, and advocacy along the Mississippi River. Operates in overlapping geography and mission, and is itself a partner to MPC, making it a close peer for programming overlap and donor competition in the Twin Cities.
• National Park Trust: National nonprofit whose mission is to preserve national parklands and connect young people to parks through education, conservation, and youth programs. Most directly comparable peer in terms of park-foundation structure, youth-program emphasis, and national-park partnership model.
• Wilderness Inquiry: Twin Cities-based nonprofit delivering outdoor youth education, paddling trips, and inclusive outdoor access programs. Already a listed MPC partner and a strong comparability match on outdoor youth education, paddling, and equity-focused outdoor programming.
• Yosemite Conservancy: Official nonprofit partner of Yosemite National Park supporting education, conservation, and visitor programs through membership, grants, and retail. Comparable in NPS-partner structure, membership tiering, and capital-campaign-driven expansion projects (e.g., visitor center developments).

Broad incumbents

• National Parks Conservation Association: The largest independent nonprofit advocating for the National Park System. Comparable NPS-centric mission, but functions primarily through advocacy and policy rather than on-the-ground programming and volunteer management.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on land conservation, urban park creation, and equitable outdoor access. Comparable on park-access and conservation-financing missions, but with broader national scope and significantly larger resources.

Emerging players

• Appalachian Mountain Club: Membership-based outdoor recreation and conservation nonprofit offering education, volunteer trail stewardship, and outdoor programming. Comparable membership-funded outdoor-education model with a different geographic footprint.

Regional players

• Great Rivers Greenway: St. Louis-area public district building and connecting greenways along the Mississippi, Missouri, and Meramec rivers. Comparable regional park/conservation district model serving an urban river corridor but in a different metropolitan geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MissParkConnection
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mississippi-park-connection

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mississippi Park Connection